Overdue utility bills growing

Terry Holtzman has watched his income sour in recent months as the plummeting housing market pushed much of the Southland's economy to the verge of recession. Beth Barrett in the Daily News.

And now, when the Woodland Hills construction worker has less to spend, rising prices for everything from food to fuel have intensified the squeeze on money for even the most basic of needs: such as keeping the power on at home.

"It's tightening up my budget," Holtzman said as he waited to pay his $350 Department of Water and Power bill at a Winnetka customer service center last week. "I'm not being able to pay my bills in full for whatever bills I have.